I have not been diagnosed with anything. I have been seen for ongoing issues, but no one seems to give me an answer. I am scared about what the diagnosis may be.

Symptoms:
ALL ON LEFT SIDE of neck/jaw/tongue/ear

My gland seems very tender and swollen almost always. If I push there, it seems like something is pushing and hurting the base of my tongue, far and deep into my mouth, almost throat/under jaw area.

sore throat that lasted the majority of 3 years after a bad chest infection, finally healed in May
after the right antibiotic, a Z-pack

Left shoulder, neck, jaw, and tongue pain

Same side on tongue swells and has a burning, sometimes tingling sensation

Neck also swells and becomes stiff from jaw to collar bone, almost daily

I feel a small knot, pea sized, in the side of my neck, and another seems to swell in my face, cheek/jaw area

I have had blood tests show hyperthyroid in May also rapid pulse

my neck cracks alot, also shoulder

my jaws both pop and click from misalignment. But it was never a problem or painful until the swelling and pain began. Many think I just have TMJ.

This seems like much more than that.

I think because it is not obvious they don't think it is that painful or serious.

I can't take it much longer.

I have had a CT scan and MRI of the head and neck, but they say there are no masses.

With the pain and swelling I am having I can hardly believe this. I feel like I have pressure and pain from something in the area under my jaw, in my neck and tongue/ear.

It hurts terribly, so much that it makes me feel like I am crazy. I saw an ENT, but he hardly examined me. He just went by the test reports.

It has gone on for so long and keeps getting worse. I can barely function to go to work most days. Many days, I swear I will go to the ER and sit there until someone finally deals with me. Once I even sat there for 3 hours as injured and coughing people passed me by and I got frustrated and left. I have a high threshold for pain and have dealt with it for so long, I just keep on putting up with it because no one takes me seriously!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so sorry for those of you suffering with your illness. I don't mean to be a big cry baby. I'm just scared and wondered if this sounds familiar.

Thanks and I will keep you in my thoughts.

You don't say where you are in Ohio, but at the dental school there is an oral medicine specialist. I would go and see that individual. Their combined dental and medical training should help you get to the bottom of this. Besides that, they have a full medical center and you will be in a system that can help you sort through additional diagnostic procedures or treatments.

Thank you. I am in SE Ohio. Where is this place located? Do these symptoms sound familiar to this forum? I am terrified and sitting here in pain. I need to do something very soon.

Thanks again.

It isn't possible for any of us here to offer you a meaningful opinion based on what you have said, and most of us are not doctors. Just as a lay person's opinion it does not sound like any typical presentation of head and neck cancers that I have heard of, but cleary you need to get some help. Ohio State, home of the Buckeyes.... has a dental school. That's where you will find your doctor.

Hey Carrie, I have had nearly exactly the same thiings goin on for about 3 years now and two ent's havent found cancer! However if you do get to the bottom of this could you pm me or post what you found out as I still wonder what my problem is as well .
Thanks!

I'd be glad to. I'm so sorry you are feeling like crap as well. It's a terrible way to feel. In so much pain and scared at the same time. I am researching some other possibilities like symptoms associated with the hyperthyroidism. Have you had your thyroid checked?

My dad's cancer didn't hurt.

mine didn't hurt either

No pain whatsoever with mine...until, of course, I started treatment.

I had a sore throat and a pain in my ear for about 4 months I thought it was allergys took motrin for pain, it helped but wouldn't go away
ENT said the pain was from the cancer on my tongue

Anything is possible I assume, but I have read that normally if you have symptoms for that long a period of time and been seen by the appropriate specialist then its very unlikely to be cancer. Im not a doctor but I assume that if one were to have head and neck cancer for three years then you most likely would start having some major problems but I dont know really and I havent been able to find any info about what one would expect to possibly see as far as progression of an untreated cancer. I still let it bug the hell out of me though. Next time i see my ENT in 3 months Im gonna ask him to possibly refer me to an oral pathologist and maybe an infectious diseas specialist cause Im really tired of not having answers! lol